A2 Film - useful revision links for 'Vertigo'

Colour symbolism in Vertigo

Costume and Identity in Vertigo

Love, Desire, The Image and the Grave in 'Vertigo'

Use of profiles in 'Vertigo'

A2 Film - Useful article on the symbolic use of setting and location in 'Vertigo'

Very useful article regarding the symbolic use of the setting and various locations in Vertigo

Vertigo - more than just the streets of San Francisco

A2 Film - Emotional Response: "Fatal Attraction"

In this blog post you are asked to analyse at least four sequences from the film, Fatal Attraction.

You need to identify how the cinematic and narrative techniques used affect your emotional response. These should include the following elements:

Mise en scene (Setting, location, lighting, props, costume, character placement)
Performance
Cinematography - angles, movement, framing
Sound - dialogue and music
Editing - pace and detail

Narrative techniques such as enigmas, cause/effect, and use of dialogue should also be considered in framing an emotional response from the audience.

You should also consider how the audience is being 'positioned' to feel potentially different emotions for different characters.

Also consider how the audience theory of 'structured interpretation' may affect an audiences' emotional response. This will depend on factors such as age, gender, class, social background, religious beliefs, moral beliefs, education, social status, marital status etc.

Sequence 1 - Lying in the Park

Sequence 2 - A Married Man

Sequence 3 - Bloody Farewell

Sequence 4 - Alex is pregnant

Sequence 5 - Alex comes over

Sequence 6 - Not being ignored

Sequence 7 - Boiled Bunny

Sequence 8 - Bathroom Brawl

A2 Film - Nine questions regarding the Emotional Response to 'Schindler's List'

These nine questions are designed to get you thinking about how you may have responded during the recent screening of Schindler's List.

Not everyone will respond in exactly the same way, and perhaps your own response may contrast markedly with others in the audience. Equally, you might respond exactly the same as others, depending on your 'take' of the film.

The film can cause wildly differing opinions and this is to be acknowledged within the framework of this particular unit. Many have found the film to be harrowing, sad, tragic and giving way to feelings of anger and helplessness, even guilt; others have found the film to be over-emotional, sentimental, and historically inaccurate. Some see it as Steven Spileberg's masterpiece, others have seen it as a 'Hollywood-ised' version of events.

So, in short, there are no right or wrong answers to these nine questions, but be prepared to back up your points, ideas and thoughts, regardless of your views on the film.

1. Did you feel ‘manipulated’ by the film at any time - such as use of emotional music, acting or visuals? Was this a positive or negative manipulation?

Give examples…

2. How much were you aware of the Holocaust and Oskar Schindler before watching the film? How might this have enhanced or changed your opinion?

3. Were there any particular sequences or moments in the film to which you had an emotional reaction?

Give examples…

4. Did you find anything negative about the presentation of the film? If so, what might this have been?

5. How might this film compare with any others you may have seen about the Holocaust?

6. How did you feel the German characters were represented in the narrative? Were there any specific examples of where this representation could be examined?

7. How far do you feel that Spielberg’s Jewish background helped or perhaps hindered the telling of Schindler’s story?

8. Consider the environment in which you saw the film – how might this have had an

impact on your response to the film?

9. How might the use of black and white film affect the way an audience may respond?

In the blog entry of 21st April there are a selection of sequences from the film…

Analyse at least five of them for cinematic technique – mise en scene,

cinematography, sound and editing – to see how they might impact emotionally

A2 Film - Schindler's List exam preparation - sequences

In conjunction with the questions you discussed in the lesson, here you will find fifteen sequences from Schindler's List.

Analyse at least five of them for cinematic technique – mise en scene, cinematography, sound

and editing – to see how they might impact emotionally…

"That's Oskar Schindler..."

"Today is history..."

The Girl in the Red Coat

Mozart or Bach?

The Balcony

"It will take more than this..."

A small pile of hinges...

"It's not that kind of a kiss..."

"Power is when every justification to kill - and we don't..."

"I pardon you..."

"The list is life..."

The shower

"He who saves one life..."

The execution of Amon Goeth

"Where should we go?" (final scene)

A2 Film - Key sequences from 'Vertigo'

In this blog post you will find thirteen key sequences from Hitchcock's Vertigo.

You can use these for class presentation, individual assignment and exam revision purposes.

Opening titles

Roof top chase

Scottie first sees Madeleine at "Ernie's" restaurant

The art gallery

Saving Madeleine

"What happened?"

Wandering together

"Don't Let Me Go"

Visiting the past

Madeleine jumps

Scottie's Nightmare

Judy becomes Madeleine

Judy jumps (end sequence)


These sequences can be used for the following areas:

Narrative structure (acts, enigmas, cause and effect, plotting)
Representation (gender, place, obsession etc)
Hitchcock as 'auteur'
Psychological aspects of infatuation, loss and betrayal
Semiotics (use of colours, symbols, themes - connotations of these)
Mise en scene - location, setting, costume, props, lighting, character placement

A2 Film: Resource material for MS3 Small Scale Project - 'The American Nightmare'...horror film documentary

For those researching horror films for their MS3 Small Scale Research Project, I fully recommend you watch Adam Simon's superb documentary, The American Nightmare, uploaded here in five parts. Absolutely essential viewing and most definitely one of the resources which should make the annotated bibliography.

The documentary looks at the development of the horror film from 1968 to the 2000s, interviewing important directors working in the genre throughout the 1970s, '80s and '90s, such as George A. Romero (Night of the  Living Dead), Wes Craven (Last House on the Left), Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), David Cronenberg (Shivers) and John Carpenter (Halloween)

Part 1. George A. Romero and the influences and influence of Night of the Living Dead from 1968

Part 2. Wes Craven and his debut horror, The Last House on the Left, from 1971

Part 3. Tobe Hooper highlights the social  influences on his seminal slasher film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, from 1974

Part 4. David Cronenberg talks about the advent of 'body horror' in the 1970s and '80s, in his films such as Shivers, made in 1976

Part 5. The final part sees John Carpenter discussing his influential slasher, Halloween, produced in 1978, and the documentary's conclusion

History of the Slasher Film Part 5 of 5

Fifth and final part of the Slasher documentary...this part focuses primarily on Scream

History of the Slasher Film Part 4

Part 4 of The Slasher documentary

History of the Slasher Film Part 3 of 5

Part three of the slasher documentary...4 and 5 to come...

History of the Slasher Film Part 2 of 5

Part two Of Mark Kermode's excellent programme on Slasher films...required viewing for my AS Film students

History of the Slasher Film Part1 of 5

A more than useful series on the history of the slasher film, produced by the film critic and journalist, Mar Kermode. Absolutely required viewing...the other four parts to follow...